There is something about these late ’70s Chrysler 300s that is just special. Yes, they are massive boats with over stuff leather seats and over the top styling, but they are surprisingly fast and incredibly comfortable to drive. This particular example has just 61k miles and is said to run great. It’s powered by the police interceptor version of the 360 V8 and offered solid performance for the time. You can find this beautiful Cordoba here on eBay in Colorado Springs, Colorado with a current bid of $5,600.
The E58 police interceptor engine featured reworked heads, higher performance cam, 4 barrel carb, dual snorkel intake and dual exhaust. Horsepower varied based on whether the car was destined for California or not and ranged from 190 (California) to 195. While that might not sound all that impressive for a car this size, remember this is a net rating rather than gross. Add in the fact that this engine produces about 280 ft. lbs. of torque and it starts to sound like a fun driver!
Look at that bright red leather! I bet these seats are nice and comfy, like an old leather recliner. The machine turned aluminum dash is an interesting touch. It looks good, but you would think a luxury cruiser would have received simulated wood grain rather than bright shiny aluminum.
This Chrysler has a few dents and dings, but is overall in great condition. It looks like you could jump right in and hit the road! The 360 V8 isn’t a monster of an engine, but should offer enough power to make this a nice daily driver and long distance cruiser. If you want some serious power from it, we know for a fact that you can fit a Hemi under the hood of one of these. Now that would be fun!
I must be blind, I don’t see the second snorkel.
These were, and are great driving cars. This one looks fantastic. If it were a Córdoba it would have the wood grain on the dash, the brushed aluminum was considered more “sporty”. Too bad the 440 wasn’t still available, but the 360 was a very capable performer.
In addition to real simulated wood, a Córdoba would have had “soft Corinthian leather”, which, as said in Ricardo Moneteblan’s voice, sounded like a thing. It was, however, simply a marketing pitch. Kahn himself would have been furious, perhaps even to the point of wrath.
Check the drive shaft. They fall out of these cars like crazy.
Miguel a beautiful low mileage car and all you can comment on is the driveshaft of which this one looks intact? A bit bitter are we?
Not bitter at all. I just have experie4nce with this model of car, and many of them.
Low mileage or not, I bet it clanks loudly.
I owned not only two of the 75 and 77 Daytona Chargers (both were equipped with the 400’s), but also the 79 Magnum(360). And in all three, driveshaft failure happened between 22K and 72K. I bought the 77 new, and at about 33, 500 , the driveshaft developed a wobble and within a few miles, even after I slowed her down to about 30 miles an hour, the front universal snapped. The 75’s shaft failed at about 64,700; and the 79 Magnums shaft failed at about 26K. And let’s not forget that the Lean Burns failed exponentially due to their position over the engine. And once they failed, due to government regulations, could not be repaired. Only replaced or eliminated (the replacement kit included a new distributor, wiring harness, and voltage regulator for about $135 in 1978). Also, many of the Torqueflite’s failed due to broken shift bands and valve assemblies. As to being fast, the 77 210/400 ci, with the lock-up tranny could barely get out of its own way as compared to my 69 335/383 Road Runner w/ 4spd. So, I can and will back Miguel on his statement about these cars. They were great looking, and road like a full sized Imperial when new, but after awhile, they went down hill after that.
Big Mopars of the 70s are beautifully styled and iconic. But, For people old enough to know, the mechanical problems on big Chryslers are notorious. You name it, it failed. It’s like at 50,000 miles, they just flew apart. For whatever reason, the smaller dodges and Plymouth’s ( darts, demons, Valiants and Dusters) with the slant six had great reputations for reliability.- but not the big cars
I don’t mind it, considering all the BS I go on with, post 72 cars….you can’t doubt the condition. Wind up glass?
I had a Cordoba and it had the wood dash and “corinthian leather seats” big and plush only mine were Burgundy a little less eye scorching. Dodge had a version of this car it was called a Magnum that particular moniker has floated around Chrysler for years.
No one is mentioning the “fine, Corinthian leather”? (Of which, by the way, there is no such thing…but a great marketing idea).
Gorgeous car. A nice example. So much prettier than all the ugly plastic bubbles they make today. Maybe it’s a gas hog but I’d drive it on weekends. Surprised there are not more snarky bitter old man comments on here from people that have probably never driven one of these. Every post I see on here has mostly negative snarky comments.
Q.E.D…
Loved these cars. I owned two. One with a sunroof and power windows and the other without.
A snark from this old fart, they were boat anchors and wallowed like whales caught near beach at low tide.
The police pkg was an option but it was more popular in smaller bodied sedans. Included better motor, not that much better, larger ralley small hubcap wheels and either Goodyear or Michelin speed rated tires.
Interiors plush if one did not notice all the cheaply made plastic panels and cat house rugs.
NOT fast, but what autos were in the late 70,s; now trucks were the rulers then.
Be a nice ride but value wise, whew, up to whomever buys.
PS some real MOPAR police pkgs. Had larger brakes and hvy- duty shocks, over original mushmobiles.
Good looking ride and unless you got extra bucks for a hemi, those 360’s can take the mods into, Chrysler sold 300+plus hp crate motors, for 1/2 price of hemi an easy solid 400 hp.
Concur in that new Hemi drops right in with only heavier duty engine mounts.
TRANNY AND EVEN SMALLER REAR CAN HANDLE UP EASILY.
Im a snarky fan of Chrysler having been licensed to drive in 1963 my first ride was a slant 6 dodge 330 standard shift. Now about my dodge polara in 1966 or the chrysler New Yorker 1969 the 2 Cordobas in the 80s all drove like boats and overheated and only lasted 150K miles or so. Im driving a 2006 300C V8 hemi that has 350K miles on it and hugs 45mph corners at 80 like a cat. I give it a daily dusting of 145mph for 10 miles or so on my way to work just because im a girl and always late. This cardoba looks like fun but only if the suspension was modified to perform.
145? yeah
The author and many commentors are completely ignorant to the fact that this is a Cordoba 300 which was a sporty version of the Cordoba that used aluminum dash and interior trim as opposed to wood appliques. This Cordoba 300 pays tribute to all the classic letter series 300s that came before it. There were still luxury versions of Cordobas made at the same time which still featured woodgrain interior trim. But please don’t complain like Chrysler did not include the choice at all.
The mid-sized personal luxury car market was the best selling category of vehicles in the mid to late 70s and all the manufacturers had a wide spectrum of luxury and sporty trim and paint options.
Woodgrain interior trim was a fad that started in the late 60s. Before then luxury cars did not rely on such baroque appearance items, so the aluminum trim of the 300 pays respects to that earlier era.
If you want wood trim go find an example that was optioned with it.
You say pay tribute, I say insult.
Yeah everyone is ignorant but you, right?
Badge engineering at its worst. Yes about the drive shaft. No upside market value. Unless you are selling to certain Chrysler collectors. I’ve had 2 300s and 2 Letter Series Cars, and they are a blast. This isn’t it. If you need something mildly unusual to run around in, this is it.
I have the same car sitting in my garage. I love it and have no regrets on my purchase. This is a beautiful car and I’ve personally never seen another 1 only pictures of them on the net. I’ve seen Cordoba’s but never this model, The 79 Cordoba 300 edition with the 360 v8. I loved the car so much I went and got the 2005 300ç with the hemi as my daily driver.
At least I am not the only one to have had the drive shaft issue with these cars.
Too bad they don’t make “personal luxury” cars like this anymore. My Dad had 3 Cordoba’s: a ’77, a ’78, and a ’79. In ’80, he traded up to a 5th Avenue. Judging from the interior, it seems to be calling to be driven on a looooong road trip. Love the color combo. Very sexy design.
Had a 77 Cordoba in the metalic chestnut color with a 400. Had it 10 yrs and had absolutely 0 repairs bsides normal maintenance. Had to give it up because 4 kids dont fit well with a two dr. Dealer would only give me $200 tradein so i sold it outright for $1500. Tradeins arent always the way to go.